Jim Fenton has worked at The Enterprise since 1981 and began covering the Celtics in the 1985-86 championship season when Larry Bird, Kevin McHale and Robert Parish formed the Big 3. He was seated courtside for nearly every home game during the 22-
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Jim Fenton has worked at The Enterprise since 1981 and began covering the Celtics in the 1985-86 championship season when Larry Bird, Kevin McHale and Robert Parish formed the Big 3. He was seated courtside for nearly every home game during the 22-year title drought that came to an end in 2008 when the new Big 3 of Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen turned things around.

Brad Stevens made a favorable impression when he was introduced as the 17th head coach of the Celtics on Friday.

Stevens wore a green tie to his press conference at the team's training facility in Waltham, spoke glowingly about point guard Rajon Rondo and said he was thrilled and humbled to receive the chance to coach the Celtics.

It figures to be a long road ahead for the 36-year-old Stevens, who also showed a sense of humor when discussing his wife of 10 years, Tracy, who is his attorney and agent.

"I’m the only coach in the country that pays 100 percent to his agent,'' said Stevens. "That’s the way that works.''

Stevens has had a fan in Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge for several years, and Ainge said the first call he made after Doc Rivers' move to the Clippers was official went to Stevens.

"I loved how his teams play. I love his poise on the sideline,'' said Ainge. "More than anything in talking to Brad over the years about prospects about the draft, I always valued what he said.

"I always valued his input. I talked to a lot of coaches and for some reason he was the guy I just trusted his opinions.’’

Rondo and Stevens spoke on the phone Thursday, and Stevens said he is eager to work with the All-Star point guard who can be a bit of a handful.

"I have so much respect for how he sees the basketball court, how he plays the game, his instinctual feel and his intelligence,'' said Stevens. "I’m looking forward to sitting down and learning from him.’’

Stevens headed back to Indianapolis with his family on Friday but will join the Celtics for the Orlando Summer League on Sunday.

He will be looking to put together a coach staff that will include holdover assistants Jay Larranaga and Jamie Young. It is likely that Stevens' main assistant will be someone with plenty of NBA experience to help guide him through the transition period.

"I know there’s a lot of growing ahead,’’ said Stevens. "I’m the first to admit that. I’ve got a long way to go and I’ve got a lot to learn.

"But we’re going to invest in our players and try to give them an opportunity to make this as great an experience as possible.’’

Stevens will be trying to making the jump from college basketball to the NBA, something some noteable coaches have been unable to do.

One of them, Rick Pitino with the Celtics after leaving Kentucky, sent Stevens a text this week telling him the situation in Boston would be a good one for him.

" We have to do this all together and give him the support.,'' said Ainge. "He had some concerns about (moving to the NBA). He had to take a leap of faith in us as an organization because there have been so many really good coaches that haven’t had the opportunity to succeed, in my opinion.''